17july2013 tmo uk

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TRANSPARENCY OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK

UNITED KINGDOM

1. Media-Specific Disclosure Requirements I : Disclosure to a Media Authority or other Public Body

QUESTIONS YES/

NO

COMMENTS

1.1 Who is required

to disclose

information, when

and to whom?

a) Are media organisations which disseminate information

or those who have interests in such media organisations

specifically required to report ownership information to a

media authority or other public body or bodies?

Y

b) If YES, what is the legal basis of this requirement? Broadcasting Act 1990 and Communications Act 20031

c) Who exactly is covered by this requirement, Broadcast media

The reporting requirements apply to TV and radio broadcasting licence holders and,

and to applicants for such licences.

These requirements do notapply to newspaper publishers, although the media

ownership rules do implicate local and national newspaper ownership and as a result

may also affect owners of such media outlets, if they also are a licensee of a regional

TV broadcasting licence for or a radio broadcasting license.

Online broadcasters are not typically regulated by Ofcom (see 1.1(c) below for

information on Ofcom), although it is arguable that they could fall under the scope of

certain provisions of the Communications Act 2003 (in particular, if broadcasts are

streamed online in a manner similar to TV channels, e.g. with programmingscheduled for certain times and if the user is not offered the option to stream video

on demand). However, Ofcom has repeatedly taken the position that it would prefer

not to regulate online activities and in general these activities are unregulated.

d) To whom must the information be reported? This information must be reported to Ofcom which is an independent regulator and

competition authority for the UK communication industries. It has the power to

regulate, among other things, the media ownership rules set out in Schedule 14 of the

Communications Act 2003 and the media merger rules that apply when media

organisations (such as newspapers, television or radio broadcasters) announce an

1Name of Country: United Kingdom

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intention to merge.

Section 5(2) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 gives the Independent Television

Commission (now Ofcom, as successor to the Independent Television Commission

under Section 253 Communications Act 2003) the power to require applicants for

commercial broadcasting licences (more specifically, applicants for TV channel regional

broadcasting licences) to provide Ofcom with such information as it may reasonably

require for the purpose of determining, among other things, whether the licence

holder will be prevented from holding a broadcasting licence in relation to media

ownership rules set out in Schedule 14 of the Communications Act 2003 and whether

the holder of the licence will be disqualified under the terms of Schedule 2 of the

Broadcasting Act 1990.

In practice, this means that Ofcom will judge for itself what information it needs to

request from applicants for broadcasting licences. It will then issue a request for

information from the applicants.

Section 250(2) of the Communications Act 2003 gives Ofcom a similar power to

require an applicant for a radio broadcasting licence to provide such information

about the applicant, his business and the service he proposes to provide as

determined by Ofcom; see also Section 88(2)(d) of the Broadcasting Act 1990.

Ofcom confirmed that such requests are routinely made both to applicants (under

Ofcoms statutory powers) and to licensees (under the terms of the licence).

e) Who must report the information? The licensee (or applicant)-- i.e., organisation that holds or is applying for a TV channel

broadcasting licence or radio broadcasting licence -- must report to Ofcom.

Shareholders of such organisations are not bound directly by this reporting obligation,

although information about shareholders is likely to be disclosed.f) Where notification is by those with an interest, is this

dependent on the size or scale of the interest, e.g. only

where a shareholding exceeds a certain size or

percentage?

If YES, what is the required threshold?

n/a


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g) Are foreign as well as domestic media organisations

covered by these requirements?

If YES, do these requirements apply to EU as well as non-

EU foreign organisations?

Y

Y

h) When is information to be notified? As described above under s. 5(2) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, licensees and/or

applicants must make reports whenever Ofcom reasonably requests information.

Applicants must also provide information at the licence application stage if requested

by Ofcom (see for example s. 15(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 regarding Channel 3

licences).

Additionally if certain events take place, reports are required -- such as a change of

control or a winding up order being made against the licensee/applicant (see for

example s. 21A Broadcasting Act 1990 and the terms of Channel 3 licences made

public by Ofcom).

Information must be sufficient to allow Ofcom to determine whether media

ownership rules (that limit common ownership of local radio, television channels and

newspapers) are complied with and whether the licensee, applicant and any entity

associated with them are disqualified under Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990

(i.e., whether they are associated with a body whose objects are wholly or mainly of a

political nature, or a body controlled by a body with such objects, etc.). See all of

Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990.

1.2 What

information is to be

provided?

a) Name and contact details of media organisation?

Y

b) Name and contact details of owner? Y

c) Country of domicile of company with an interest? Y

d) Citizenship/residence status of individual with an

interest?Y

e) Size of shareholding?

If YES, please provide details

Y Ofcom must determine whether a licensee or applicant is controlled by a body that

would be disqualified under para 1. Part II Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 or

whether such a body would have a more than 5 per cent interest in a

licensee/applicant. Accordingly, both the percentage of shares held and the voting


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rights of a licensees or applicants controlling/owning entities would be potentially

subject to information requests by Ofcom.

f) If shares are held on behalf of another, e.g. through

brokerage, must the name of the beneficial owner be

disclosed?

Y

g) Details of companies or individuals with an indirect

controlling or significant interest?

If YES, please explain.

Y Schedule 14 of the Communications Act 2003 lays out media ownership rules which

bar persons from holding TV channel regional broadcasting licences or radio multiplex

broadcasting licences in certain circumstances, for example if such a person (or

persons connected with them) run a national newspaper with a national market

share of over 20 per cent. A person runs a newspaper if they are the proprietor (i.e.,

owner) of the newspaper or if they control a body which is the proprietor of the

newspaper. As a result, it would be reasonable for Ofcom to require information

about indirect controlling interests to the extent that they would allow companies tocontrol a national newspaper (for example). See for example para. 1 of Schedule 14

of the Communications Act 2003.

Likewise under Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 persons are disqualified from

holding regulated licences if they are an entity that controls a body that would be

disqualified from holding such a licence, or if they hold a more than 5% interest in a

body that would be disqualified. Note that Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990

defines a person as controlling a corporate body if (i) he holds (or is entitled to)

more than 50 per cent of the equity share in the body, or more than 50 per cent of the

voting power; if (ii) if it would be reasonable to expect that he would be able, by

whatever means, either directly or indirectly, to achieve a result such that the affairs

of the body are conducted in accordance with his wishes, even if he does not have a

direct interest in the body; or (iii) if he holds (or is entitled to) 50 per cent of the

equity share in that body, or possesses 50 per cent of voting power, and an

arrangement exists between him and any other participant in the body regarding theexercise of voting control over the body. This means that individuals who control a

body, even if indirectly and without owning any direct equity or voting rights in the

body are still covered by the Schedule 2 rules.

Persons are also disqualified if they hold undue influence over a body that would be

disqualified or even if such an undue influence would be against the public interest

(i.e., in situations where is no direct shareholding but management decisions are

made by a person, that person may have undue influence if they stand outside the


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normal management structure of an organisation). See for example para. 4 of

Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990.

h) Political, religious or other affiliations of shareholder /

owner?

Y

Schedule 2 para. 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 explicitly disqualifies bodies with

primarily religious or political objects; licensees controlled by, associated with or that

are at least 5% owned by such bodies are also disqualified from being licensees.

Accordingly, Ofcom does request this information. Note that this restriction also

applies to individuals who are officers of such a body, and also to bodies controlled by

one or more such officers.

i) Interests by owners in other media organisations?


Y

Under various provisions of Schedule 14 of the Communications Act 2003 (i.e., para 1,

para. 7) Ofcom must prevent accumulations of interests in a combination of certain

licences (i.e. Channel 3 licences) together with ownership or management interests in

national newspapers with a national market share of over 20 per cent, and similar

restrictions apply to management of local newspapers and local radio multiplexbroadcasters. Consequently Ofcom would require disclosures by owners of the

licensees of their interests in other UK media organisations including newspapers and

radio broadcasters.

j) Interests by owners in non-media businesses?


N

It is not clear that Ofcom has the power to request this information on the basis of

Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 or Schedule 14 of the Communications Act

2003, except to the extent that such an interest would be disclosed by Ofcoms powers

to reasonably require information described in the paragraphs above. However it

should be noted that Schedule 2 para. 6 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 does bar

ownership of licensees by advertising agencies and associates of advertising

agencies -- so to the extent that an owner of a Channel 3 licencee, for example, or

radio broadcasting licencee has an interest in advertising agencies, Ofcom clearly does

have the power to request information regarding this interest.

k) Interests in the media organisation by individuals (e.g.

family members or organisations) affiliated to the

owner?

If YES, how is affiliation defined in the relevant

instruments and what details are to be disclosed?

Y Schedule 2 para. 1 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 defines this affiliation as including

(i) any individual and that individual's husband or wife or civil partner and any relative,

or husband or wife or civil partner of a relative of that individual or of that individual'shusband or wife or civil partner; (ii) any individual and any corporate body of which

that individual is a director; (iii) any person in his capacity as trustee of a settlement

and the settlor or grantor and any person associated with the settlor or grantor; (iv)

persons carrying on business in partnership and the husband or wife or civil partner

and relatives of any of them; or (v) any two or more persons acting together to secure

or exercise control of a body corporate or other association or to secure control of any

enterprise or assets.


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Note that in the above definitions, relative means a brother, sister, uncle, aunt,

nephew, niece, lineal ancestor or descendant (the stepchild or illegitimate child of any

person, or anyone adopted by a person, whether legally or otherwise, as his child,

being regarded as a relative or taken into account to trace a relationship in the same

way as that person's child); and references to a wife or husband shall include a former

wife or husband and a reputed wife or husband and references to a civil partner shall

include a former civil partner and a reputed civil partner.

l) Management details: for example, directors (if a

company), key executive officers, managing editor? Y

Control of a licensee includes management control; accordingly Ofcom would also

need to vet management of broadcasting licences to ensure that various paragraphs

of Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 are not breached.

m) Subsequent changes in ownership (resulting from a

merger or acquisition by other entities, etc.)?Y

n) Sources of media revenue?


Y

As described above, Schedule 2 bars ownership of licences if an owner is, or is

associated closely with, an advertising agency (para. 6 Schedule 2 of the Broadcasting

Act 1990). Likewise certain state-funded bodies such as the BBC are explicitly barred

from holding licences, and any entity that has received more than half its funds in its

last financial year from the UK government is also barred from holding or owning a

body that holds a broadcasting licence. As a result Ofcom would have the power to

request information relating to licensee and licensee owner funding sources, in order

to determine that such funds were not derived from the state under.

o) Other.

p) Are these obligations sufficient to establish who the legal

or natural persons are who effectively own and

ultimately control the media organisations?

Y

The obligations described above are sufficient to determine (i) ownership (ii) direct

control and in most cases likely (iii) indirect control (to the extent that undue influence

is exercised, for example).

1.3 Effectiveness of

the disclosure

regime

a) Are there any sanctions for non-reporting?

Y

Ofcom must enforce the media ownership rules and requires such information in

order to do so. As a result, non-compliance could result in a breach of the

broadcasting licence, but may also result in Ofcoms refusal to issue such a licence inthe first place to a non-compliant applicant (under s. 5(2) of the Broadcasting Act

1990, as described above). Any such breach of a licence, once issued, could entitle

Ofcom to terminate the licence as a breach of a condition under contract law.

i. If YES, have they have been applied in practice?

ii. If NO, why not?Y

Ofcom has confirmed that requests are routinely made but it has not been possible to

ascertain how often sanctions are applied for non-compliance.

b) Can the public obtain access to this information?

If YES, how?

Y The terms of Channel 3 regional licences, for example, are available to the public

because they are published on the Ofcom website.


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Ownership information is available on the Ofcom website via the application for a

licence although some information is redacted and the chain of ownership is not

disclosed.

It is not clear whether or not sanctions and enforcement information are made public,

as the terms of the licences only require the information to be provided to the

regulator Ofcom and such information is not readily available on Ofcoms website.

However, it may be possible to enter a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request to

obtain such information under some circumstances (or information about ownership

of media interests as obtained by Ofcom more generally), as Ofcom is a public body

subject to such requests under s. 3 Freedom of Information Act 2000. In response to a

request made in February 2012 to Ofcom about how many times they have receivedrequests for ownership information, they replied that they have received no FOIA

requests and that the information is in the public domain.

Ofcom does not publish the information it receives as a response to such requests for

the general public.

c) Is this information required to be made available to any

other body, for instance, parliament?

If YES, please specify.

N

The terms of the licences only require the information to be provided to the regulator

Ofcom under the Broadcasting Act 1990, as described above. It is not clear whether

separate provisions would enable other public bodies such as Parliament to access this

information. Ofcom itself has advised that such information is probably only

accessible generally on grounds of a Freedom of Information Act request.

d) Can certain information be withheld, for instance on

grounds of commercial sensitivity?

If YES, please specify N

As far as is known, such information cannot be withheld on these grounds, unless it

can be argued that the request for such information by Ofcom would be

unreasonable and thus outside the terms of the relevant broadcasting licence. If

such information cannot be obtained by Ofcom under the terms of the licence, then it

would not be possible for the public to access such information via the Freedom ofInformation Act. As described below, the general rule is that Ofcom must disclose

information requested under the Freedom of Information Act.

e) Are there any bureaucratic or other constraints, for

instance charges, on public access?

If YES, please specify

N

Assuming that the public can only access such information through a Freedom of

Information Act request to Ofcom, and assuming that such a request would be valid

and that no reason to avoid disclosure would apply, standard bureaucratic processes

for the making of a Freedom of Information Act request would apply. There is no flat

rate fee to receive information and in many cases the information will be provided


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free of charge.

Fees for disbursements can apply (these are the costs associated with providing the

information, for example photocopying and postage), but such fees must be

appropriate to the request made under Information Commissioner Office guidance.

An authority can refuse a request if it estimates that it will cost them in excess of the

appropriate cost limit to fulfil your request. The limit is 600 for central government

and Parliament and 450 for other public authorities.

f) Would a reasonable, nontechnical individual be able to

ascertain who effectively owns and ultimately controls

the media organisation concerned from the

information available?

If NO, please explain.Y

Under the Freedom of Information Act, according to Information Commissioner Office

guidance (which has some statutory authority to provide recommendations for best

practice under s. 48 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000), when a request is made

the requestor is entitled to request that information be provided with a digest or

summary of information, although the public authority responding to the requestmust provide this information only if reasonably practicable. To the extent that

Ofcom is willing to satisfy such requests and to the extent reasonably practicable,

such information should be provided with such a digest or summary -- this would

hopefully enable nontechnical individuals to access the information in an accessible

way.

g) Has the public made use of this facility in practice?

Y

i. If YES, is it common practice? Do the media pick up

the information?

ii. If NO, why not?

Ofcom confirmed that it is frequently the subject of Freedom of Information Act

requests, but could not confirm whether such requests are made by media or whether

they would cover questions regarding information held by Ofcom about ownership of

media interests in the UK.

2. Media-Specific Disclosure Requirements II: Disclosure Directly to the PublicUESTIONS YES/

NO

COMMENTS

1 Who has to

sclose

formation and

hen?

a) Are media organisations and/or their owners specifically

required to disclose ownership details directly to the

public?N

b) If YES, please specify the legal basis for this requirement

c) Who exactly is covered by this requirement?


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d) Does the duty apply to foreign as well as domestic media

organisations?

e) Are there are any differences in the requirements that

apply to European and non-European organisations.

f) Where exactly is the information to be disclosed?

g) When is information to be made available to the public?

2 What

formation must

e disclosed?

a) Name of owner?

b) Country of domicile if a company? /

Citizenship/residence status if an individual?

c) Size of shareholding?

If YES, please provide details

d) If shares are held on behalf of another, e.g. through

brokerage, must the name of the beneficial owner be

disclosed?

e) Details of companies or individuals with an indirect

controlling or significant interest?

If YES, explain.

f) Political, religious or other affiliations of shareholder /

owner?

g) Interests by owners in other media organisations?

If YES, explain.

h) Management details: for example, directors (if a

company), key executive officers, managing editor?

i) Sources of media revenue?

j) Other.

k) Are these obligations sufficient to establish who the legal

or natural persons are who effectively own and

ultimately control the media organisations?


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3 Effectiveness of

he disclosure

egime

a) Are there any sanctions for non-reporting?

If YES, what is the range of potential sanctions and who

has power to impose them?

b) Are sanctions, if available, applied in practice?

If NO, why not?

c) Can certain information be withheld, for instance on

grounds of commercial sensitivity?


d) Are there any bureaucratic or other constraints, for

instance charges, on public access?


e) Would a reasonable, nontechnical individual be able to

ascertain who effectively owns and ultimately controls

the media organisation concerned from the information

available?

If NO, please explain.

f) Has the public made use of this facility in practice?

If NO, why not?


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Non Media-Specific Transparency Requirements (ie laws applying to companies)

UESTIONS YES/

NO

COMMENTS

1 Who is required

o disclose what, to

hom and when?

a) Are there non media-specific transparency requirements

that require media organisations to disclose ownership

information?

Y

b) What is the relevant legal basis for disclosure? Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), Section 854.

c) To whom do the disclosure requirements apply (e.g.,

companies) and, In particular, where companies are

required to provide ownership details, which types of

companies are covered?

All companies have at least some disclosure requirements on ownership but these

vary depending on the type of company.

d) To whom is the information to be disclosed? It is disclosed to Companies House (company registrar) whose main functions are to:

incorporate and dissolve limited companies;

examine and store company information delivered under the Companies Act and

related legislation; and

make this information available to the public.

e) When is the information to be notified? On incorporation, all companies have to make disclosures under s. 9 -13 CA 2006.

Thereafter an annual return must be submitted, along with the annual accounts under

s. 854 CA 2006.

f) What information must be disclosed? Incorporation

On incorporation, disclosures under s. 9 -13 CA 2006 cover (i) the companys proposed

name; (ii) the location of the companys registered office; (iii) the memorandum and

articles of association; (iv) and a statement of capital and initial shareholdings. This

information does not include beneficial ownership through brokerage.

Annual Accounts and Annual Returns

All companies must file annual returns (s. 854 CA 2006) which should include

following information: where the register of members (shareholders) is located and is

available for inspection (if other than at the companys registered office) (s. 855(1)(d)

CA 2006); details as to the number and classes of shares, attached voting rights and

nominal value, etc. (s. 856(2) CA 2006); and, details as to current and previous (in the

previous year) shareholders and the shares they hold (s. 856(3)&(4) CA 2006).


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In the annual return, traded public companies are also required to provide a list of

shareholders who hold (or held, during the year) at least 5% of the issued shares of

any share class (see s. 856B CA 2006). There is a similar requirement for qualifying

partnerships (broadly, UK partnerships where each member is a limited or unlimited

company) under Regulation 4 of the Partnerships (Accounts) Regulations 2008 (SI

2008/569).

CA2006 requires all companies to file annual accounts. Small and medium-sized

companies as defined in the Companies Act 2006 (see s. 382 for small companies and

s. 465 for medium-sized companies) are only required to file abbreviated accounts,

which do not include information on shareholders (s. 444 CA 2006).

Beneficial ownership through brokerage and nationality are not disclosed in the

annual return for any company. See Part 24 CA 2006 (s. 855-856B).

Documents that determine beneficial ownership through brokerage for shares (for

example a document agreeing to hold shares on trust) are not normally ever disclosed

to Companies House and so are not generally available on the Company House

register for public inspection.

g) Do these obligations enable the public to obtain

sufficient information to establish which legal or natural

persons effectively own or ultimately control media

organisations?

If NO, please explain.

Not all the basic information required to identify ownership is available. Beneficial

ownership is not disclosed, therefore the ultimate owner(s) or controller(s) cannot be

discerned.

2 Effectiveness a) Where is the information recorded? Companies House, and companies websites if they are a publicly listed companies.

b) Are there any sanctions for non-reporting?

If YES, what form do they take and who applies them? Y

It is an offence under s. 858 CA 2006 to fail to deliver the annual return. Liability

attaches to the company itself, as well as the directors and company secretary (if

applicable) who may be liable to summary conviction and a fine of up to one-tenth of

Level 5 on the standard scale under s. 37(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 for each

day the annual return is not delivered after it is due (Level 5 is currently 5,000).

c) Are any applicable sanctions for violations applied in

practice?

Y


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If NO, why not?

d) Can the public obtain access to this information?

If YES, how?

Y

This information is available to the public via the Companies House website.

Additionally, publicly listed companies are required to publish their accounts on their

company websites under Section 430(1) of the Companies Act 2006.

e) Are there any practical conditions or charges that could

serve to restrict public access?

If YES, please specify,

Y

Nominal fees apply. Documents can be downloaded from the Companies House

website starting from 1. Documents can be requested by post of fax from 3.

f) Would a reasonable, nontechnical individual be able

to understand who effectively owns and ultimately

controls the media organisations using the

information indicated in this section?

If NO, why not?

N

Not all the basic information required to identify ownership is available. Beneficial

ownership is not disclosed, therefore the ultimate owner(s) or controller(s) cannot be

discerned.

g) Have the public made use of this facility to establish

media ownership information in practice?

If NO, or limited, use has been made, why not?

Y

ENDNOTES


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1 Media ownership rules are subject to review every 3 years according to the 2003 Communications Act in order to assess whether

they remain relevant. Media ownership rules can now be removed under secondarylegislation, meaning there is no need for a new

Act. The last review was carried out in June 9, 2011 by OFCOM a summary can be found at:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/media-ownership-research/rulesreview/. Local cross-media

ownership rules were removed in 2012 last year under the Media Ownership (Radio and Cross-media) Order 2011 -

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/110609. It is a problem in the UK is that legislation is now

secondary.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/media-ownership-research/rulesreview/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/media-ownership-research/rulesreview/http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/media-ownership-research/rulesreview/